§7323 Judicial Action to Enforce Forfeiture

Summary

Forfeiture cases must be handled as a court case against the property itself in the U.S. District Court where the property was seized. If the bond described in section 7324(3) was signed and the property was returned before formal seizure, the marshal must notify the people who signed the bond about the court case by personal delivery or by public notice the court orders. After that notice, the court has the same authority to decide the matter as if the property had been officially seized. The court can also require payment of the costs of any seizure made before court papers were issued.